NEWSLETTER

OUR MISSION: To preserve the natural and cultural heritage of El Charco del Ingenio, and maintain a botanical garden dedicated to the conservation and study of regional flora and ecosystems, with a primary focus on environmental education.

SPRING EQUINOX CONCERT

Saturday, March 22, starting at 5:30p.m.
METALES M5 ENSEMBLE

As every year this musical event takes place in the canyon of El Charco del Ingenio, an amazing natural sculpted space, carved by nature in stone over time immemorial. Since its inception 16 years ago, the concert in the canyon has been a collective celebration of life, with an ever growing and enthusiastic audience and always with the presentation of artists and groups of very high quality and various musical expressions.
This year we will celebrate this great feast of the Earth in the Botanical Garden with a concert of winds, by the ensemble METALES M5 / MEXICAN BRASS, with pieces by contemporary composers ((Kevin McKee, Maurice Green, Paul Dukas, Samuel Barber, Ken Bichel, Michael Kamen y E. Humperdinck) in original combination with baroque composers ((Handel, Mozart, Bach y Gabrieli).

This great ensemble has impressed a wide audience of all ages and musical tastes, playing hundreds of concerts with baroque music, contemporary, opera, musical comedy, blues, folk, film and music from around the world. In their presentations, all 5 musicians, who have classical training, mix the familiar with the unexpected - surprising, and always entertaining virtuosity. Their chamber music skills are at a high level, their stage show captivating, the audience interaction and their charisma convert the concert into a music-theater show. With its warm sound and joy, M5 has achieved recognition and respect of audiences and critics in different countries. Information: charcodelingeniocomunicación@gmail.com .Tels. (415) 154.4715 y 154.8838

We recommend purchasing tickets in advance (to avoid long line-ups) at the Garden’s Reception area, Posada Corazon (Aldama 9) and at the Camino Silvestre stores (Correo 43 and Zacateros 46).
Before the concert at 4:30 there will be a Spring Equinox Ceremony in the Plaza of the Four Winds led by Alicia Mayo.

BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATION CLASS

Monday-Friday, March 24-28
General Public: 2500pesos ($209USD); Members 2,250pesos ($188USD)
Limited to 15 people. Register before FEBRUARY 14TH. A deposit of 600 pesos is required to hold your place.

El Charco holds these workshops several times a year in conjunction with the Denver Botanic Garden. In this workshop, students will learn the techniques for realistic drawing in graphite pencil, including line drawing, shading and perspective. In a series of small studies and step-by-step exercises, you will train your eye to observe carefully details and your hand to record what you see. The secret to portraying light and shadow on your subjects lies in understanding the scientific method of lighting as it applies to different forms. Beginning with basic geometric shapes, refine your skills in showing light and volume on any subject. You overcome the obstacles of creating three-dimensional drawings while studying the range of value, continuous tone, and textured highlights while you discover the secret of portraying light and shadow. You’ll take your drawings from flat to fabulous. You'll emerge from the class with the skills you need to draw anything and you are confident to draw what you see. Even though this class mainly will work in graphite pencil, the principles apply to all other media. charcodelingeniocomunicación@gmail.com for more information or to register.

INTRODUCTION TO LAND ART

STUDENTS UNIVERSITY OF GUANAJUATO

From past exhibitions of this new creative expression in the Botanical Garden, held every year since 2010, as well as the growing interest aroused among students, a new experience and example of Land Art this spring will be held in El Charco, with the participation of students from the University of Guanajuato in Landscape Architecture and Sustainable Urban Engineering, led by the architect Fabiola Colmeneros. They will begin the process during the month of February, with an introduction on the meaning of this genre, then design and perform their works in certain areas of the Botanic Garden. The whole process will be curated by Oscar Aguirre.
The oppening will take place on Saturday May 31. There is still time, but we will be reporting on progress on this first collaboration with the University of Guanajuato.

FERA ANIMALS ... WHAT?

Feral animals are initially domestic, but for some unfortunate reason are abandoned and become a threat to ecosystems. What are we talking about exactly? Mainly dogs, cats, goats, sheep and donkeys. The problem with these animals is that by not originally belonging to the ecosystems in which they are released, they become predators, competitors and transmitters of diseases without control of the native organisms. It is an effect identical to that caused by introduced invasive plant species. The difference between a "stray" animal and a feral one is where they roam, as one is involved in urban and community dynamics, while others live like wild animals. They also differ in their behavior.
Everywhere in the world there are known cases of packs of feral dogs that attack not only wildlife, but livestock and even people who approach them. It is also well known the incredible effect that cats have had on populations of migratory birds, and what about the goats, sheep and donkeys, who kill off plant species mainly on islands (such as the Gulf of California) and that have required impressive eradication campaigns. It is for this and other reasons in areas dedicated to conservation that the proliferation of feral animals is avoided at all costs. The Ecological Preservation Zone, which is owned by the Botanical Garden, is no exception, because eventually it suffers from the incursion of these animals, mainly dogs and cats.
In addition to municipal control campaigns of this feral wildlife, we individually can do something, adopting and sterilizing our domestic animals, not letting them leave the house without supervision, and making good decisions about the type of pets we decide to have so we don’t end up abandoning them.

CARNIVOROUS PLANTS: PASSIVE HUNTERS

Carnivorous plants are very special beings, and there are about 600 species and subspecies in the world. Contrary to the information in some movies and TV shows, these interesting plants have adapted incredibly to the lack of nutrients in soils on which they grow, and are able to obtain sustinence from other sources such as insects. Carnivorous plants are generally very small and depending on the variety, the leaves are modified to secrete sticky substances or store acidic liquids inside, some with bright colors or odors which are attractive to unsuspecting small insects that fall into them. In Guanajuato we have some species representative of this group of plants, whose way of catching insects is by having sticky hairs on its broad leaves. A carnivorous plant can not help us control insects at home, since they are not active hunters, but rather slow, and passive. But they are an interesting attraction and a source of endless botanical knowledge . Some of these plants can be purchased in specialized nurseries or from collectors . Do not forget always to ask for the legal documentation of the plant to prevent the illegal trafficking of this species..

Wish List

El Charco del Ingenio is in need of many items. Below is a list of items to help us with our mission of protecting this nature preserve and providing environmental education across central Mexico.

If you have any of the items below or can donate the equivalent in pesos you will be helping to support a great, local cause.

❂ For our custodians who keep a watchful eye on every corner of El Charco: three sets of good binoculars
❂ For the gardeners: two professional weed cutters
❂ For the office: multifunctional printer and propane heaters
❂ For the greenhouse: watering cans
❂ For El Charco: a 12-15 seat van so we can offer daily transportation from the center of town
❂ For every aspect of el Charco: volunteers

LAST MONTH’S ACTIVITIES

Exhibition and Sale of Contemporary Prints of Mexico

El Charco gratefully thanks Arturo Guerrero and Lorenza Corchera for their initiative and effort in this activity which took place February 21-23 in the Boveda as a Benedit for the Botanical Garden. With good results, El Charco del Ingenio strengthened its artistic side, an area which will soon have new surprises. We also thank AM San Miguel newspaper which covered this event: http://amsanmiguel.com/?p=586

A HUGE SUCCESS: BENEFIT CONCERT FOR EL CHARCO

The Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra and friends gave a sold out concert on February 26 to the delight of the audience at St. Paul’s Church.
Thanks to Paula Greene, Naomi Zerriffi, Norman Nelson and the Orchestra, Camino Silvestre and Posada Corazon for making this benefit concert possible.

ACTIVITIES FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH

Bird-watching Tours

Every first and third Wednesday of the month, 9 am – 11:30 am. English Cost: 100 pesos general public | 60 pesos El Charco members
Guides include Signe Hammer, Norman Besman, Luke Rich and Michael Wheatcroft.
The walks are for birders of all levels. They begin at 9:00 am and last about 2 1/2 hours. No reservations needed, and feel free to leave the walk at any time. Please bring binoculars, wear comfortable walking shoes and a hat, and bring water. Your guide will meet you after you pass through the Reception area of the Botanical Garden.

¡Ven a pajarear con nosotros, te sorprenderàs!

More information: charcodelingeniocomunicacion@gmail.com

Guided Tours in El Charco

Martes y jueves 10 am

Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 am| in English
Duration: two hours Cost: $80 pesos, members $50

Visit the Conservatory of Mexican Plants, the Scented Garden and the canyon, archeological ruins and much more. We recommend you wear sunscreen, and bring a hat. With some luck, we will have some rainy days still in September.

THE FULL MOON CEREMONY

Sunday, March 16th | 7p.m. | Plaza of 4 Winds |

We invite everyone to this open celebration that has been taking place for many years during the full moon cycle at the Four Winds Plaza in the Botanical Garden under the always surprising direction of Alicia Mayo. It’s worth arriving a little early to admire the setting of the sun and the appearance of the moon over the mountains. You may want to bring a coat for cool evenings and you may bring a musical instrument.
Alicia Mayo : 152 .0376.

This sweat-lodge steam bath, of ritual and healing character, takes place under the direction of an experienced temazcal leader in the ruins of the hacienda located in the Botanical Garden on the far side of the reservoir.
The combination of heat, humidity and fragrant herbs provides a purifying experience for the body and spirit. Its benefits are multiple: it activates circulation, increases the body’s defenses, eliminates pains, decreases uric acid, relaxes the muscles, regulates the nervous system, stimulates respiration and is excellent for losing weight.